Aeonium plant named ‘Caribbean Rose’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Aeonium  cultivar named ‘Caribbean Rose’ is disclosed, characterized by compact clusters of lime green rosettes, foliage with a very thin apical blush colored pink. Plants grow quickly, forming offsets at a distinctively young age. Due to abundant and early offsetting, plants can be produced commercially in various pot sizes, from 9 cm to 2 gallon, while maintaining an attractive compact habit. Foliage resists edema seen in some  Aeonium  cultivars and plants are observed tolerant to temperatures as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit.  Aeonium  is, typically produced as a container plant for the patio or for landscape use.

Latin name of the genus and species: Aeonium hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘CARIBBEAN ROSE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar, Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’, was found by the inventor,Renee O'Connell, as the result of a crossing made February 2011 as partof a planned breeding program. The seed parent variety is the unpatentedproprietary variety referred to as Aeonium hybrid ‘Menthe 11. The pollenparent is the unpatented variety Aeonium hybrid ‘LP II’. Aeonium‘Caribbean Rose’ was selected by the inventor, Renee O Connell, inSeptember of 2012 from a group of seedlings resulting from the 2011crossing, at a commercial greenhouse in Vista. Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Caribbean Rose’ was firstperformed in Vista, Calif., at a commercial greenhouse, by vegetativeoff-sets in October of 2013. ‘Caribbean Rose’ has since producedmultiple generations and has shown that the unique features of thiscultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘CARIBBEAN ROSE’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘CARIBBEAN ROSE’ These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘CARIBBEAN ROSE’ as a new and distinctAeonium cultivar:

-   1 Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’ exhibits compact clusters of lime green    rosettes, with a very thin pink apical blush.-   2. Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’ grows quickly, and begins to form    clusters at a young size, often first offsetting in a 4″ pot.-   3. Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’ can be grown in pot sizes from 9 cm to 2    gallon due to its early offsetting, while maintaining its compact    habit.-   4. The rosettes of Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’ do not exhibit the    tendency towards the physiological “edema”(scars or scabs) that many    other lineages involving Aeonium, especially those of nobile lineage    exhibit.-   5. Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’ has been trialed in the landscape in    full sun in Escondido, Calif., and has shown good tolerance to the    summer heat to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CARIBBEAN ROSE’ are similar to plants of theseed parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants ofthe new cultivar ‘CARIBBEAN ROSE’ differ in the following;

-   1. Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’ exhibits a more rounded morphology than    does Aeonium ‘Menthe 11’.-   2. Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’ is freely offsetting, whereas Aeonium    ‘Menthe 11’ only produces occasional offsets.-   3 Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’ exhibits a faster growth rate than    Aeonium ‘Menthe 11’.-   4. Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’ is freely offsetting from an early size    and age, whereas Aeonium ‘Menthe 11’ offsets sparsely, and at a    larger size.-   5. Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’ forms a more compact morphology than    does Aeonium ‘Menthe 11’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CARIBBEAN ROSE’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants ofthe new cultivar ‘CARIBBEAN ROSE’ differ in the following;

-   1 Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’ does not exhibit the tendency towards    physiological “edema” that is exhibited by Aeonium ‘LP II’.-   2. Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’ forms larger rosettes than does Aeonium    ‘LP II’.-   3. Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’ forms rosettes with a more globular    morphology than the rosettes of Aeonium ‘LP II’.-   4. Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’, due to the larger rosettes, and more    upright overall morphology, is more suitable for larger pot sizes,    such as 8 inch and 2 gallon, than is Aeonium ‘LP II’.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CARIBBEAN ROSE’ are comparable to theunpatented, commercial variety Aeonium ‘Lily Pad’. The two Aeoniumvarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however,the new variety ‘CARIBBEAN ROSE’ differs in the following:

-   1. Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’ quickly forms clusters of somewhat    spherical rosettes whereas as Aeonium ‘Lily Pad’ produces clusters    of more flattened rosettes.-   2. Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’ does not exhibit the tendency to    physiological “edema” that Aeonium ‘Lily Pad’ suffers.-   3. Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’ has exhibited much more tolerance to    summer heat and seasonal rosette closure than does Aeonium ‘Lily    Pad’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CARIBBEAN ROSE’ can also be comparable tothe unpatented commercial variety Aeonium ‘Party Platter’. The twoAeonium varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics;however, the new variety ‘CARIBBEAN ROSE’ differs in the following:

-   1. Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’ produces more spherical rosettes,    whereas the rosettes of Aeonium ‘Party Platter’ are generally    flattened, growing taller by virtue of stem offsetting pushing the    central rosette upward.-   2. Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’ exhibits more sun tolerance than does    Aeonium ‘Party Platter’, which does best with a shade exposure.-   3 Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’ due to its spherical rosette morphology,    exhibits more resistance to disease than does Aeonium ‘Party    Platter’, which, because of its flatter rosette morphology, tends to    “trap’ water in its apical meristem, often leading to apical rot.-   4. Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’ has exhibited more heat and full    tolerance, particularly in the hot summer, than Aeonium ‘Party    Platter’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a typical of plantof Aeonium ‘Caribbean Rose’ grown in a shadehouse in Vista, Calif. at alight intensity of approximately 2000 to 3000 fc. Age of the plantphotographed is approximately 10 months from a rooted plantlet.

The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.All photographs provided by the breeder.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Caribbean Rose’ plants in a commercialshadehouse in Vista, Calif. Temperatures ranged from approximately 6° C.to 35° C. night and day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatmentsor chemical treatments were given to the plants. Natural lightconditions were approximately 4000 fc of light. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Aeonium hybrid ‘CARIBBEAN ROSE’.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Vegetative offsets.-   Time to initiate roots: About 18 days at approximately 24° C.-   Root description: Fibrous, brown, not accurately measured with a    color chart.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 4 months.-   Container size of the plant described: 6 inch.-   Growth habit: Upright, caulescent, with a terminal rosette, freely    offsetting from below rosette and between leaves of the rosette to    produce cluster.-   Height: Approximately 13 cm to top of highest leaf.-   Plant spread: 23 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderately fast.-   Branching characteristics: Freely offsetting.-   Rosettes per plant: Average range 12 to 20.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosulate.        -   Average length.—Approximately 6 cm.        -   Longest length.—Approximately 7.0 cm.        -   Average width.—3.2 cm.        -   Widest width.—Approximately 4.0 cm.        -   Width at base.—1.1 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Spatulate.        -   Apex.—Mucronate.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Finely ciliate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.        -   Quantity of leaves per rosette.—Average range 35 to 50.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137C. Base            Yellow-Green 144D, White 155A at attachment. Young foliage,            under side: Near RHS Green 137C. Base Yellow-Green 144D,            White 155A at attachment. Mature foliage upper side: Near            RHS Green 143A. Base Yellow-Green 144D. Apical margin has a            very fine flush near Red-Purple 59A. Mature foliage, under            side: Near RHS Green 143A. Base Yellow-Green 144D. Apical            margin has a very fine flush near Red-Purple 59A.        -   Venation.—There is no visual appearance of venation.

FLOWER

-   Flowering not observed to date.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Flowering not observed to date.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Fruits and seeds: Plant has not flowered or produced fruits and    seeds to date.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from approximately −2    degrees C. to 40 degrees C.-   Disease/pest resistance: Displays the same disease and pest    resistance of any other comparable Aeonium.-   Drought tolerance: Tolerates at least 3 weeks of high temperatures    without supplemental water, showing no serious damage to plant.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aeonium plantnamed ‘CARIBBEAN ROSE’ as herein illustrated and described.